Surface material working



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,Aug. 17, 1943. F. H. FANNING SURFACE MATERIAL WORKING 8 Sheets-Sheet 8Filed Sept. 2, 1939 NWN Ww w MN mwN . INVENTOR Hero ,4. fiMv/Nq'ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1943 OFFICE SURFACE MATERIAL WOBKING Fred n.Fanning, Pittsburgh, Pa, asslgnor to Blaw-Knox Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.,a corporation of New Jersey Application September 2, 1939, Serial No.293,269

20 Claims.

This application relates particularly to a work table or holder in anapparatus for surface material working. My applications, Serial No.343,604, for improvements in Surface working method, filed July 2, 1940,and Serial No. 370,470,

for improvements in Surface working apparatus,

filed December tions based on this application.

The present invention relates to material working operations, and moreparticularly to re moving surface material from sides of ingots,billets, slabs, plates, and the like by an operation commonly known asscalpingfif The machine to be described is especially designed forremoving appreciable amounts of surface metal from the sides or oppositefaces of metal slabs. Particularly in the working of aluminum and likemetals and allows, it has been found desirable to remove surface metalof irregular composition, physical properties, and contour from slabs ineither the as-cast condition or the partially-worked condition by amachining operation. It is with the problem of so removing surface metalthat the embodiment of the invention here particularly described is bestadapted to be employed.

In prior scalping practice it has been customary, in some instances, tomount a slab to be scalped in a work holder and to traverse the workholder and slab past a rotary, milling-type cutter which operates on afaceof the slab exposed to the cutter as the slab is held in the holder.

One method of operation under the above practice has included loadingthe slab into the holder at theloading position, traversing the holderand slab past the cutter, unloading the work from the holder at aposition distant from the loading position, traversing the empty holderback to the loading position, and thereafter reinstituting the cycle ofoperations. Another method of operation under the above practice hasincluded loading the slab into the holder, advancing the cutter intooperable position, traversing the holder and slab past the cutter,retracting the cutter out of operable position, returning the holder andslab back to the loading position, there unloading the slab, andthereafter reinstituting the cycle of' operations. In either of theabove described methods of operation the form of the machine and themethod used have involved considerable amounts of waste time, in thatthe cutter could not be usefully employed during appreciable lengths oftime, for instance, while the work holder is being returned to loadingposition, or

17, 1940, are divisional applicacutting tool. Thus an while a slab isbeing removed and a new slab is being loaded into the work holder.

A means of saving time in the operation of a scalping machine isembodied in the form of machine described herein, which machine employsa work holder comprised of two work supporting units. These worksupporting units are i arranged in one work holder on opposite sidesthereof so as to be adapted to alternate presentation to the workloading apparatus and to the ingotv or slab may be loaded or unloaded,inverted and loaded, as desired, at one position withrespect to a worksupporting unit temporarily located adjacent thereto, while anotheringot or slab is being held in an opposite work supporting unit facing acutting tool, by means of which an ingot or slab may be scalped whilethe necessary operations are being made at the ,first mentioned worksupporting unit. 1

The presently preferred arrangement provides for the location of twooppositely disposed work supportingunits in a common work holder whichis rotatable about an axis midway between the work supporting units, sothat by a simple rotary motion a newly loaded slab and a scalped slabmay exchange positions in a very short period of time and thus makepossible the rapid reinstitution of the scalping or surface machiningoperation.

The above mentioned novel type of work holder has been associated in thepresent invention with a cutting tool mounted and operated in a novelmanner, and with loading, unloading, inverting, and conveying means ofnovel construction for use adjacent one work supporting position. I

By comparison of the method and machine described hereinafter with theabove mentioned methods and apparatus, several objects and advantagescan be readily appreciated. One object of the present invention is theelimination of lost time in the operation of a surface metal workingmachine, especially as respects the period in which the metal workingtool is employed for actually removing met Another object of theinvention is the provision of a novel form of work holder havingmultiple work supporting units therein. A further object is theprovision of novel means for securing rigidity of the work holder.Another object is the provision of simple means for delivery of power tovarious motive mechanisms located in a rotatable work holder.

Another object is the provision in a surface metal working machine ofimproved apparatus for receiving, loading, unloading, inverting, anddischarging slabs at one position relative to the work supporting units.Another object of the invention is improved slab handling means inassociation with a multiple unit work holder.

A further object is the provision of improved work positioningmechanisms associated with each work supporting unit operable inassociation with the work loading apparatus arranged to set a slab intoa work supporting unit of a work holder.

Another object isthe provision of a multiple unit work holder adapted tosupport work pieces for simultaneous presentation to cutting positionand to loading and unloading position or positions.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon reading the accompanying description of the preferred formof the invention in connection with the drawings. The objectsparticularly set forth are to be considered as intended to express thegeneral purposes of the invention described, either singly or incombination.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a preferred form of slab or ingot scalpingmachine showing the work manipulator, the work holder and frame thereforwith slabs located therein, the chip conveyor, and the cutting mechanism(the work manipulating mechanism being partially removed in this figure)Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig.1 showing thegeneral arrangement of the parts with a slab shown therein (the workmanipulating mechanism being removed);

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 withslabs shown therein and showing also the work manipulating mechanism andwork holder in side elevation;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the work manipulating mechanismwith a slab shown in a portion of the work holder and showing in moredetail that mechanism as shown partially in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged composite front elevation and section of the workholder showing in more detail one of the work supporting units as viewedin Fig. 2, but without a slab located therein;

Fig. 6 is a composite side elevation and section of the work holder tothe same scale as Fig. 5 with slabs shown therein and showing in moredetail a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged rear view, partly sectioned, of the cutter headcarriage and cutter drive mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a section through the cutter head mechanism and carriagetherefor to the same scale as Fig. '7 and taken on the line VIIL-VIII ofFig. '7, this view being a section similar to the end elevation shown inFig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show the general arrangementof the preferred embodiment of the invention which may be said to becomprised of a work manipulator l adapted to function also as part of aconveying means for delivering slabs or ingots to or from the apparatus,a main frame 2, a rotatable work holder 3 comprised of two worksupporting units 4 in which the slabs may be clamped and held forsurface machining, a carriage bed 6, a movable cutter carriage I, acutter head 8 incorporating a cutter 9 which is adapted to be traversedpast a slab for removal of surface metal, and a chip conveyor It) (onlypartially shown in the drawings) for disposal of scalpings or chipsremoved by the cutter, the latter having no direct bearing on the novelmode of operation of the machine.

Reference numerals i2 indicate slabs or ingots located in the supportingunits 4 (and shown dotted in process of being inverted in Fig. 4); andit will be noted by reference to Figs. 1 and 3 that two slabs l2 may belocated in holder 3 at one time, one on the cutter side of the holderand one on the manipulator side of the holder. As will be describedlater in detail, theholder 3 is rotatable about its vertical centralaxis so that a slab loaded into one supporting unit 4 may be presentedto the cutter 9 by rotation of the holder, and so that a scalped ormachined slab may be re-presented to the manipulator I, either to bedischarged if then finished on both sides, or to be reversed whendesired and reloaded into the holder if a side has yet to be finished,or refinished in case of insufficient scalping on its first pass throughthe machine.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the manipulator l and theholder 3 are mounted in fixed positions relative to the cutter head 8which latter, on its carriage I, is traversable over its bed 6 past thework held in a work supporting unit presented thereto. This arrangement,rather than a reciprocatory mounting of the holder 3, is preferablybecause it permits greater rigidity in the mounting of the holder thanwould be obtained if it were movably mounted; and a single fixedlocation of the manipulator is desirable to simplify and expedite thehandling of slabs. This arrangement also makes possible the use of anovel means for advancing, retracting, and traversing the cutter head8,,but the invention is not to be considered limited to thisarrangement.

Work manipulator Fig. 4 may now be considered in connection with Figs.1, 2, and 3 for a description of the slab or ingot manipulator l. lserves the functions of horizontally delivering a slab toward or awayfrom a supporting unit 4, vertically placing a slab into or removing itfrom a supporting unit 4, and inverting a slab when desired.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 a slab or slabs I2 are shown in full line,presented to a supporting unit or units 4. Also in Fig. 4 a position ofa slab I2 is illustrated in dotted lines at which it is in the processof being inverted by mechanism included in the manipulator I. Referringnow particularly to Fig. 4, the manipulator l is comprised of a rollertable IS, the upper surface of which is normally comprised of aplurality of rollers l6 and 11. work inverting arms 42 and 43 normallyhorizontally disposed and supported in laterally spaced relation onpivoted frame 46; and rollers I! are suitably mounted on shaft 51supported in bearings 58 in pivoted manipulator frame 46. The compositeroller table IS with frame 46 is hingedly mounted on a shaft l8 locatedin suitable bearings in a fixed manipulator base l9 at one end and ismovably supported at approximately its center by means of a connectinglinkage associated with a pressure cylinder 22. The above describedmounting of roller table I5 is such that its normally plane uppersurface may The manipulator Rollers I5 are supported in pivotedv beslightly inclined either toward or away from the holder 3, as indicatedby dotted positions of end rollers I6 in Fig. 4, through the operationof pressure cylinder 22, whereby to cause a slab resting on the table tomove by gravity either toward or away from the holder 3.

Also associated with, and forming part of, the manipulator I aspresently described are a plurality of spaced, parallel work loadingarms 25 interleaved longitudinally between inverting arms 43 and pivotedto fixed base I9 adjacent one end of manipulator I on shaft 26 to whichthey are secured, the loading arms 25 bearing a plurality ofwork-engaging rollers identified by reference numerals 21, 28, 29, and30, presenting an outwardly convex work-engaging surface; thework-engaging rollers 28, it will be noted, project beyond thelongitudinal axis of the loading arms 25 a slight distance greater thando the rollers 27, 29, and 30. The loading arms 25 are adapted to bemoved from a substantially horizontal position below the surface ofroller table I5, shown dotted in Fig. 4, to a substantially verticalposition, shown in full line in Fig. 4, and to be re turned, through theoperation of a connecting linkage and a pressure cylinder 34.

When a slab I2 resting horizontally on roller table I5 is to be placedinto a work supporting unit 4, the work loading arms 25 occupy thehorizontal position, with the rollers 21, 28, 29, and 36 forming asurface substantially parallel to the interleaved surface formed byrollers I6 carried by arms 43. The slab I 2 assumes a position overloading arms 25 by gravity movement over the previously or then tiltedroller table I5, its movement in the direction of the supporting unit 4being arrested by a plurality of work supporting fingers 36 mounted onloading arms 25, the fingers then being held in a position substantiallyat right angles to the longitudinal axes of arms 25 by means of aconnecting linkage and pressure cylinder 46 (shown in Fig. 6) associatedtherewith. It is pointed out that fingers 36 in the dotted horizontalposition of arms 25, shown in Fig. 4, are retracted and not in theperpendicular position described; their position relative to arms 25 isshown in the full line position of arms 25. Thus a slab I2 resting on aportion of roller table I5 and abutting against fingers 36 may be liftedby loading arms 25 and tilted into vertical position, then deposited ongripping inserts 19 of bottom jaw members 80 in a supporting unit 4, aswill be hereinafter described. The fingers 36 are mounted on throughshaft 3| common to all arms 25. In the erect position of arms 25, theextended fingers 36 preferably support a slab I2 slightly above lowerjaw inserts 19. After the slab has been properly aligned as hereinafterdescribed, the fingers 36 may be retracted with respect to arms 25 bymeans of pressure cylinder 40 and its connecting linkage so that slab I2is lowered into gripping position and the arms 25 may then be returnedto horizontal position without interference by the positioned slab I2with fingers 36, i. e. so that fingers 36 will clear the outermost loweredge of slab I2. The supporting surfaces of fingers 36 are preferablysmooth so as to facilitate easy sliding of slab I2 thereon during thealigning operation.

The loading arms 25 are necessarily returned to the horizontal positionto permit rotation of the holder 3, as will be further enlarged upon,and then the arms 25 may again be brought to the vertical position andthe fingers 36 actuated into supporting position, whereupon the arms 25may be returned again to horizontal position to remove a finished orsemi-finished slab from the work holder 3. After a slab has beenreturned to the roller table I5 as above described, it must then. beinverted so that the unfinished surface thereof may be exposed whenreloaded for operation of the cutting tool.

For inverting slabs the aforementioned roller table I5 is constructedwith pivoted inverting arms 42 and 43, in which the rollers I6 aremounted, and the centrally located series of rollers I1 over which theend of the ingot or slab I2 may rock as it is inverted by motion of thearms 42 and 43 to and from the inclined dotted positions shown in Fig.4.

The inverting arms 42 and 43 are secured to shafts 44 and 45,respectively, mounted in the pivoted frame portion 46 of the rollertable I5, previously identified as pivoted on shaft I8 in fixed base I9of the manipulator I. Means for causing rotation of arms 42 from thehorizontal to a position less than Vertical, and for simultaneouslycausing rotation of arms 43 to a position slightly beyond vertical isprovided in the form of a pressure cylinder 41 mounted on trunnions 48in suitable bearings in pivoted frame 46 of manipulator I and theconnecting linkage therefor. A piston rod 49 from pressure cylinder 47connects to a lever 50 extending from shaft 44 and secured thereto, towhich inverting arms 42 are secured, this linkage being adapted toimpart a rotary motion to shaft 44. A rotary motion opposite indirection to that applied to shaft 44 by pressure cylinder 4'! throughthe aforementioned linkage is at the same time imparted to shaft 45through the medium of a crank 5| secured to shaft 44, an adjustable link52 connected at one end to lever 5I, a crank 53 rotatable about shaft I8to which the opposite end of link 52 is secured, a gear segment 54 fixedfor angular movement with lever 53, and a meshing gear segment 55mounted on and secured to shaft 45.

As will be noted in the drawings, the gear I ratio between segments 54and 55 is such that segment 55, and thereby shaft 45, has a greaterincrement of angular movement for each increment of angular movement ofshaft 44, the cranks 5| and 53 being of the same length. Thus the arms43 on shaft 45 will be rotated through a greater angle than will arms 42on shaft 44, both being actuated by the common operating means comprisedof pressure cylinder 41 and the connecting linkages associatedtherewith. The arrangement of arms 42 and 43 and the actuating mechanismtherefor is provided so that a slab located in substantially horizontalposition near the Work holder 3 may be turned up, beyond over-center byarms 43 and allowed to return to horizontal position with arms 42 andthus be inverted as arms 42 and 43 are folded up and unfolded, whereuponthe slab may be caused to approach holder 3 and again be loaded into asupporting unit 4, by means of loading arms 25, in a reversed position.As aforementioned, the rollers I! serve as an abutment over which theslab I2 to be inverted may be rocked. They are preferably free mountedon a through shaft 5! mounted in bearing members 58 in pivoted frame 46.The lower position of inverting arms 42 and 43 with reference to frame46 is preferably fixed by means of abutments 60 on frame 46 adaptedv tosupport the arms 42 and 43 through projections 6i thereon.

As aforementioned, the whole roller table IS with frame 46 is movablefor slight inclination in either direction about shaft i8 through themedium of pressure cylinder 22. This cylinder 22 is mounted on trunnionslocated in suitable bearing members in the fixed base IS. A piston rod2| actuated by pressure cylinder 22 is operable to cause the movement ofroller table 15 and frame 46 through the medium of a suitable universalcoupling 23 and a cushion 24, preferably of rubber or the like forabsorbing shocks. Thus the elevation of the center of table i5 isestablished by the position of the piston in cylinder 22. It is thenpreferable and desirable that the piston be approximately at the centerof its travel when table I5 is horizontal.

The loading arms 25 are mounted for motion from horizontal to verticalposition preferably by being secured to shaft 26, to which motive forcesare applied by means of pressure cylinder 34 mounted on trunnions 35 insuitable bearing members located on fixed base Ill. The piston ofpressure cylinder 34 acts on a piston rod 33 engaging a bracket 32 on anarm 25 and is adapted to cause movement of all the work loading arms 25through the arm which carries bracket 32 and the shaft 216 to which thearms 25 are secured.

For actuating the fingers 36 there is provided a double-acting pressurecylinder 46 (see also Fig. 6) mounted on trunnions 4| bearing in a yoke39 secured to the shaft 26. The pressure cylinder 40 actuates thevarious fingers 36 through the medium of piston rod 38, crank 31, andthrough shaft 3! to which crank 31 is secured. Thus the fingers 36 aremoved with through shaft 3| to which they are secured, the shaft beingjournalled in arms 25.

The limiting position of arms 25 when moved so that their longitudinalaxes are substantially vertical is preferably controlled by means of twoadjustable sto pins 65 adapted to abut against dogs 66 keyed to shaft 26at opposite ends thereof (Fig. 4 shows one set of such stop pins 65 anddogs 66). The stop pins 65 are preferably commonly actuated foradjustable pred termined position by means of a hand wheel 61 on a shaft68 carrying worms adapted to turn suitable externally toothed nuts 64 todrive the screw threaded stoo pins 65 to a predetermined position. Dials69 are provided on the opposite ends of nuts 64 whereby the setting ofstop pins 65 may be calibrated for ready predetermination. The two setsof stop pins 65 and dogs 66 are provided for operation on either end ofshaft 26 for accuracy in locating the upper position of arms 25 and tominimize variation in location of arms 25 possible through torsionalstrain of shaft 26, so that these arms 25 may form a locating surfaceada ted to predetermine the position of a slab l2 in a work supportingunit 4.

Work supporting units A slab I2 i placed in a work supporting unit 4 ofwork holder 3 by means of the work loading arms 25, the projectingrollers 28 being adapted to predetermine the outward location of theouter surface of the slab, since the arms 25 will have a locationpredetermined by th setting of stop pins 65. As will appear, thelocation of the outer surface of slab l2 by the position of arms 25predetermines the amount of material to be surface machined from slabl2.

Each work supporting unit a slab I2 is presented by the loading arms 4to either of which 25 of the manipulator I is comprised of mechanismlocated generally on one side of a central plane through the axis ofrotation of the holder 3. Each unit 4 (see Figs. 5 and 6) includes fourgripping jaws 19 in fixed bottom jaw members 36 integral with the bodyor housing of holder 3, four gripping Jaws 18 in movable top law members8| (any two or more upper and lower pairs of which Jaws may beselectively employed) pressure cylinders 82 for operating each of thetop Jaw members 8|, two spring bumpers 15 for cushioning the slab l2 asit is placed into a supporting unit 4, and six motorized alignmentscrews located in the body of holder 3 and cooperatively arranged tolocate, align, and back up a slab placed in a supporting unit 4, thealignment screws 96 being disposed with reference to slab l2 in spacedrelation opposite the loading arms 25 as they assume their substantiallyvertical position.

As a slab is brought from the roller table l5 by the loading arms 25into a supporting unit 4, it engages the two aforementioned horizontallyprojecting spring bumpers 15. The spring bumpers serve to retainengagement between rollers 28 and slab 12 as the slab is being locatedand aligned by motorized screws 90, as will be described. The springbumpers 15, being yieldable, do not interfere with the aligmnent of theslab l2 by the screws 96 and they also serve the additional usefulfunction of tending to eject the slab I2 when the top Jaws 8i arereleased after completion of a machining operation and when loading arms25 are in readiness to unload the slab l2.

The bumpers 15 comprise a cylindrical housing 16 secured in the body ofholder 3, a sleeve 11 shouldered at its inner end, a coiled compressionspring 18, and a bearing button to which reference numeral 15 isdirected, the spring acting between housing 18 and the bearing buttonportion of bumpers 15, which latter is screwed into sleeve 11.

In order to align the slab I2 after it has been presented to the holder3 and while it is being supported on fingers 36, th plurality ofhorizontal alignment screws may be motor actuated with their outer endsin a common vertical plane to position against the inner face of slabi2, pressure aligning it in cooperation with rollers 28 on arms 25 andthus both predetermining the depth of material to be removed by thecutter and the plane through which the cutter is to act, that planebeing one parallel to the vertically aligned inner face of the slab.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, referring to Figs. 5 and 6, itwill be noted that sixalignment screws 90 are provided, but it must bepointed out that for determining a vertically aligned plane for theinner face of slab l2 only three of the screws 96 should preferably beemployed. Rather than provide for disengaging means in the drivingmechanism for screws 90. the expedient of removal pressure buttons 9| ispreferably resorted to, thusany of the six screws may be made operableby the sliding insertion of buttons 9i on selected screws 90, preferablyon three of them; mor of the screws may be employed if desired, andthose selected will be those best adapted to accommodate the particularsize of slab l2 to be worked on.

In cases where the work or slabs l2 have regular depressions orprojections, buttons SI of different axial length may be inserted inscrews 99, or the screws 99 may be located in gears 95 in differentaxial'position relative to one another. However, as described here,buttons 9i will normally rest in a common verticalplane movable againstthe inner face of the work. The screws 99 for each individual supportingunit 4 are actuated by means oi. electric motors 92 mounted in holder 3.through drive shafts 93, bevel gearings 94, and a train of gears 95Journalled in holder 9. In the outer six of the cluster of 7 gears 95the screws 99 are threadedly supported within internally threadedapertures. Suitable right or left hand threads of like pitch arepreferably employed on screws 99 and within outer gears 95 so that alikeaxial motion of the screws 99 will be imparted thereto by rotation ofmotors 92, drive shafts 93, bevel gearings 94 and gears 95. Screws 99are provided with longitudinal bores and keyways so that suitable keys96 may be inserted in rods 91 passing therethrough and held at one endin the body of holder 3 to prevent rotation of the screws within theinternally threaded gears 95.

Motors 92 are preferably of the type known as torque motors, which maybe energized to drive screws 99 against the back face of slab I2 with apredetermined force until the motors 92 are stalled. It is desirablethat motors 92 be capable of being stalled under full load so that thedesired backing up pressure against the back face of slab I2 may beexerted through alignment screws 99, prior to clamping of slab I2 byengagement of the opposed gripping jaws through inserts I9. Suitabletime relays not shown in the drawings are preferably provided forautomatically cutting oil the current to each motor 92 when it has beenstalled for a predetermined length of time. It will be apparent that thepitch and thread of the screws 99 in the internally threaded portions ofgears 95 may conveniently be such that the screws are selflocking andwill not tend to be driven back by back pressure of the slab, if suchthere be, when a motor 92 has been electrically disconnected.

For convenience and universal automatic use it is desirable that motors92 be adapted to drive screws 99 back away from work-engaging positionafter the slab is removed from a supporting unit 4 and before a new slabis repositioned. Suitable well known mechanical and electrical means maybe employed for effecting the automatic retraction of the screws 99 inthe described manner.

It will appear from the (above description that arms 25, and screws 99,which are adapted to be driven in a common plane, align and locate slabI2 with its inner face in proper vertical position for a machining orcutting operation on its outer face, whereupon it is desirable to firmlygrip the slab I2 to permit retraction of the loading arms 25 and so thatthe slab I2 will be firmly held in holder 3 when the same is rotatedinto the cutting position.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the aforementioned bottom jaw members 89 are shownintegral with the body of work holder 3 and are provided with suitablegripping jaw inserts I9. The movable top jaw members 8i are slidablysupported on T-shaped guides 83 below flange 94 of holder 3, the jawmembers Bibeing thereby secured to the body of holder 3 and providedwith like suitable gripping inserts 19. The jaw members 8| are eachindividually actuated by pressure cylinders -82 through piston rods 85,

the cylinders 82 being suitably supported on flange 84 integral with thebody of the holder 9.

In this embodiment of the invention the cylinders 82 are. double actingoil cylinders supplied with oil pressure from pump 99, driven by motor91, Jaws 8| in each unit 4 being controlled by one of two. electricallyoperated piston valves 99 associated therewith. The oil reservoir forthe'cylinders 82 is provided in a chamber 99 within the holder 3. Thisarrangement provides a self contained system within the rotatable holder3, electrically and hydraulically controlled, andhydraulically'independent of fixed frame 2, for operating the clampingmechanism of each supporting unit 4 and insuring that even gripping andpositive withdrawing forces are exerted by each of the Jaw members 8i.

Work holder After a slab I2 has been loaded into a work supporting unit4, the slab located and gripped by the mechanism above described, andthe loading arms 25 returned to horizontal position, the work holder 3must be rotated 189 to present that slab I2 to the cutter 9 and toreturn a previously machined slab I2 to the loading and unloadingposition. The holder 3 is mounted in main frame 2 for rotation on athrust bearing I95. The thrust bearing I rests in a yoke I96 suspendedfrom main frame 2 on piston rods I91 connecting to pistons in cylindersI98 secured to the bracketed upper portion of main frame 2. The yoke I96carries a suitable lower bearing race I99, and the shouldered main shaftII9 of holder 3 bears a cooperating upper bearing race Ili adapted toride on balls H2 held between the races III and I99. The shouldered mainshaft H9 is journalled in yoke I96 by means of a suitable sleeve bearingII3 in the yoke I96 located below the thrust bearing I95. This mainshaft II9 has an upwardly extending portion journalled for rotatable andvertical sliding movement in sleeve bearing H9 held in the main frame 2above the yoke I96, and shaft II 9 supports the holder 3 including themechanism carried thereby on its downwardly extending portion to whichit is fitted and held by key III.

The holder 3 is rotatable and vertically slidable at its lower portionon a stub pivot shaft 5 located in the bottom portion of main frame 2and carries within its body a sleeve bearing H9. Thus vertical and axialalignment of the holder is provided through the medium of journalbearings H4 and H6 and shafts H9 and H5.

For securing the holder 3 against rotation during the machiningoperation, it is arranged to rest on interengaging portions comprisingtwo inverted V-shaped wedges I29 mounted on main frame 2 and located oneither side of stub pivot shaft H5, and suitable cooperative inverted V-shaped bearing seats I2I provided in holder 3. These wedges and bearingseats I29 and I2I, respectively, since they interlockingly bear theweight of the holder 3, serve to prevent rotation of the holder 3 andgive it rigidity at its lower portion until the same is lifted forturning. For giving additional rigidity to the holder 3 at its upperportion and for holding it down on wedges I29, there are provided twopressure cylinders I24 mounted in the main frame 2 of the appa- I21bracketed to the side portions of main frame 2 and arranged so that thedowel pins I26 enter recessed apertures I28 in the flange 84 of holder3. Cylinders I24 are suitably pressure operated to drive the dowel pinsI26 into the apertures I28 above mentioned (see Fig. 5), the taperpermitting pressure to be transmitted downwardly to wedges I20 andserving to increase the rigidity of the apparatus.

When it is desired to release the holder 3 for rotation to reverse therelative positions of the supporting units 4, the tapered dowel pins I26may be withdrawn by means of the aforedescribed pressure cylinders I24and piston rods I25, but the employment of the V-shaped wedges I20requires that the holder 3 be lifted so that the bottom portion andbearing seats I2I thereof will clear the wedges I20; and it is for thispurpose that the holder 3 is hung from the main frame 2 by means of theaforementioned piston rods I01 actuated by pressure cylinders I08. Thusto permit turning of the holder 3 the cylinders I08 are actuated, afterdowel pins I26 have been raised, to lift the yoke I06 by means of pistonrods I01, the yoke I06 lifting the holder 3 through thrust bearing I05and shouldered main shaft I I0.

When the work holder has been thus raised so that its bottom portionclears wedges I20, it may then be actuated for rotation. To impart aturning motion to the work holder, there is provided a pressure cylinderI30 (see Figs. 1 and 5), a piston rod I3I pinned to a slidablecross-head I32, a link I33, a crank I34, a spring held latch member-I35, a shaft I36, 9, gear I31, and a pinion I38 mounted on main shaft II0. Through the aforementioned mechanical linkage the piston rod I3I maybe actuated by cylinder I30 to push on crank I34 for turning holder 3.The ratchet toothed portion of crank I34 is then adapted to cause rotarymovement of the corresponding latching member I35 held by the spring I36and keyed to shaft I36 to impart to shaft I36 a rotary movement. Thusshaft I36 through gear I31 and pinion I38 will impart rotary movement tothe holder 3. Piston rod I3I may be quickly moved a sufficient distanceto give turning movement to holder 3, and then it may be withdrawn, theslippage between crank I34 and latching member I35 permitting freerotary movement of holder 3 in the proper turning direction; or thepiston rod I3I and linkage associated therewith may be arranged tofollow the rotation of holder 3 through its full 180 movement.

For stopping holder 3 and preliminarily locating it, two horizontallatches I40 are located in the main frame 2 on either side of the holderadjacent the apertures I28 for the tapered dowel pins I26. These latchesI40 have blunt V-shaped ends, vertically disposed and adapted to engagevertically disposed V-shaped recesses in the flanged portion 84 ofholder 3, and they are each spring-held against flange 84 on therecesses by two springs I4I adjustably preloaded by means of screws I42(Fig. 2). The latches I40 are such that the force imparted by cylinderI30 is sufficient to overcome their holding power against rotarymovement, and such that the coasting or final rotary motion of theholder 3 may be arrested thereby. Thus the holder 3 may be stopped onthe approach of recessed portions in flange 84 to the latches I40.

When the holder 3 has been turned through an angle of 180 and stopped bythe latches I40, it

may then be lowered by means of pressure cylinders I08 to rest on thewedges I20, and thereafter the tapered dowel pins may be forced intoposition by means of cylinders I24 to positively lock the holder 3 inits lowered position.

The ratchet construction between crank I34 and latch I35, employed inconnection with the cylinder I30 for causing rotation of the holder,permits return movement of the piston rod I3I without effect upon thework holder and places bothtin condition for the next 180 rotary movemenWhen the holder is raised and rotated the work or slabs I2 pass over theinverted V-shaped wedges I20. In order to protect the surfaces of thewedges I20 from scalpings and chips which might fall onto them duringthe rotary movement of the holder 3, covers I45 for the wedges I20 havebeen provided which are adapted to automatically slip over the wedgesI20 when the holder is lifted and to be automatically retracted from thewedges when the holder is returned to rest on the wedges. Mechanism forprotecting each wedge I20 comprises a cover I45 actuated through a linkI46 by a bell crank I41, the other end of whichbell crank I41 is adaptedto be engaged through a roller by an integral tripper I48 on the bottomportion of the holder 3 (Fig. 5). The bell crank I41 is held againsttripper I48 by means of a coil spring I48 attached at one portion to themain frame 2 and at its other end to an extending dog I secured to thebell crank pivot shaft I5I in a bracket from frame 2. It will be seenthat downward movement of the holder 3 will press bell crank I41 andwithdraw the cover I45 from the wedge I20. Likewise upward movement ofthe holder 3 will permit spring I49 to pull bell crank I41 to oscillatethe same on shaft I5I to replace cover I45 over wedge I20.

A collector ring assembly, identified generally by reference numeralI55, is mounted for turning movement on the upper portion of main shaftIIO. This assembly is provided as a suitable means for bringing electricpower into the work holder 3 whereby electrically thrust valves 88, pumpmotor 81, and alignment screw motors 92 may be operated, and pressurecylinders 82 and pump 86 actuated independently of any external pressuresystem. This construction generally provides a self-contained, unitarymechanism.

A base I56 for the collector unit I55 is shown supported within sleevebearing I I4 on shaft I I0, and slidabl with shaft IIO for verticalmovement of holder 3 on vertical pins I51 secured in the upper portionof main frame 2, the pins I51 passing through suitable bosses on baseI56 also serving to prevent rotation of base I56 with holder 3. From theupper portion of base I56 a cover plate I58 is preferably supported onfour rods I53.

The collector rings I60 are grouped on a central shaft I6I rotatablysupported between base plate I56 and cover plate I58 and areelectrically insulated from shaft I6I and from each other. The shaft I6Icarries a thrust collar I62 adapted to seat on a recessed aperture ofbase I56. An extending portion of shaft'I6I is keyed into a turningplate I64 secured as by bolts to the top of shaft IIO. Shaft H0 isprovided with a hollow central bore I65 through which individual leadsI66 are brought from collector rings I60 to the holder 3. Brushes I61(one of which is shown in Fig. 6) may be conveniently mounted on rodsI59 supported on base I56 for making electrical contact with rings I60.Suitable conductors tapped into leads I66 and connected to the alignmentscrew motors 92, the pump motor 81 and the electrically operated valves88 are adapted to electrically control the work aligning and clampingmechanisms.

Cutter carriage After a slab I2 has been loaded into work holder 3, theholder rotated to bring the slab, in a supporting unit 4, around to aposition adjacent the cutter 9, and the holder lowered onto wedges I20and secured by the dowel pins I26, the slab is ready for a surfacemachining operation to be effected by cutter 9.

Reference is now made to Figs. 7 and 8 in particular and also to Figs.1, 2, and 3. In these figures the cutter 9 comprises a plurality ofcutting tools (not shown in detail) peripherally mounted in cutter head8. Cutter head 8 is secured to spindle I10 by a suitable threaded andkeyed connection at IN, the spindle I10 being supported on cuttercarriage 1 by means of two sets of roller bearings I12 and I13. Thesebearings I12 and I13 incorporate tapered rollers I14 held in suitablebearing races.

The spindle I10 is secured against axial movement with reference tocarriage 1 by means of the aforementioned roller bearing I12, theexternal races of which are secured in bearing member I 90 secured tocarriage 1; bearing I13 in bearing member I9I is of the floating typefor expansion of spindle I 10. The spindle I10 is particularly securedat bearing I12 by means of a keyed spanner nut I92 engaging a threadedsplit nut I93 in spindle I 10 and acting against a ring I99 surroundedby a sealing member I95, which latter.

sealing member I95 is retained by a recessed retainer ring I96 securedto bearing member I90 as by bolts. The thrust bearing arrangementprovided is to prevent axial play of spindle I10 which would result intool chatter marks on the surface of ingot I2.

Cooling and lubricating oil for cutting tools forming cutter 9 issupplied from reservoir I15 by means of suitabl pipe lines I16, oil pumpI 11, flexible line I18, and an internal conduit I19 axially mounted inspindle I10 which rotates thereabout on suitable bearings 238, theconduit leading to an oil distributing orifice I80 at the center ofcutter head 8. Flexible line I18 is attached to conduit I19 to deliveroil to orifice or spray nozzle I80 by means of a suitable coupling I8I.Pump I11, mounted on a sub-base I91, is driven by an electric motor I82through suitable gearing I83 and coupling I 84.

The cutter 9 is driven by an electric motor I85 through a sheave I88mounted on the shaft thereof carrying V-belts I81 to a sheave I88 keyedto spindle I10. The motor I85 is adjustably mounted on carriage 1 bytake-up screw I89 so that proper tension in V-belts I81 may be presetand slack in the belts eliminated.

The carriage 1 rests on ways 2I1 and 2I8 of a sub-base 'I 91, and haslimited movement with respect thereto in a'direction parallel to thespindle from an advanced cutting position to a retracted position.Sub-base I 91, in turn, rests on ways 2I5 and 2I 6 of carriagefoundation bed 6 perpendicular to the spindle and parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the work holder 3, and is movable thereon to carryor traverse the cutter past the work and return. The length of thismotion may be fixed suitable to the longest slabs to be scalped, but itis preferred to provide several selectable means for automaticallystopping, retracting and returning the cutter at different lengths oftravel to suit a variety of slab lengths, which may be in the form oflimit switches 239 mounted on bed 6 and actuated by a cam 240 secured tothe subbase I91. This provision increases the capacity of the machineconsiderably if a wide variation in slab lengths prevails, by reducingthe time for the tool to traverse the work holder 3 when scalping slabsof less than maximum length.

The above mentioned motions are imparted to the carriage 1 and sub-baseI91 by a hydraulic cylinder 200 and cooperating elements hereinafter tobe described in detail. Oil to ways 2I5 and 2I6 is supplied fromreservoir 20I (Fig. 8) through piping 202, pump 203, and suitable oillines (not shown). The pump 203 is driven by an electric motor 204through suitable gearing 205 and coupling 206. The electric motor 204and pump 203 are mounted on subbase I91 adjacent to the aforementionedpump I11 and motor I82 for delivering coolant oil to the cutter 9. Theaforementioned coolant oil reservoir I15 is suitably located on the bedof the machine or on the floor, and the line I16 is adapted to betraversed over the reservoir during the movement of the cuttercarriage 1. Like wise the line 202 entering oil reservoir 20I is adaptedto be traversed with the carriage 1, the reservoir 20I being mountedadjacent reservoir I15 on the cutter bed 0. A lubricating oil reservoir2I0 is located within carriage 1, oil from which may be circulated tobearings and other parts by means of pump 2 (see Fig. 1) driven by motor2l2 through suitable gears and a coupling 2M.

Since the cutter 9 must face of slab I2 after the surface machiningoperation, it is desirable that it be retracted before the returnmovement of the carriage 1, and that it be advanced to a preset positionprior to the forward movement of the carriage 1. The feeding cylinder200 acting on piston rod 201 is adapted to effect automatic advancing,traversing, retracting, and returning of the cutter head 8 and carriage1 by'means of a composite bell crank linkage to be described.

The carriage bed 6 has formed thereon the aforementioned longitudinallyextending ways 2I5 and 2I6 provided with suitable liners. The way 2I5 isan inverted V-shaped way for lending lateral rigidity to the sub-baseI91 and the way 2| 6 is substantially flat. The sub-base I91 of thecutter carriage is adapted to have longitudinal movement on carriage bed0 over the ways 2I5 and 2I6. In other words, the cutter carriage onsub-base I91 is adapted to have its traversing and return movements overcutter bed 6 in a direction past the work to feed or return the cutter9. This longitudinal movement of subbase I91 is imparted by feedingcylinder 200 through piston rod 201 in a manner which will be describedin detail hereinafter.

The sub-base I91 carries two laterally extending ways 2I1 and 2I8 on itsupper portion for slidably supporting the cutter carriage 1. way 2I1 ismerely flat and the way 2I8 is an inverted V-shaped way for lendinglongitudinal rigidity to carriage 1, both ways carrying suitable liners.At the cutter head end of sub-base I91 there is secured a stop 2I9adapted to limit the outward movement of cutter carriage 1 on the ways2I1 and 2I8 of sub-base I91.

The carriage 1 is adapted to have lateral movement over its sub-base I91on the ways 2I1 and 2I8, and is adapted to have its axial advancing bereturned across the movement limited through the engagement of anintegral wedge 220 with the stop 2I9 carried on sub-base I91. A suitablestop nut 231 (Fig. '1) is associated with the piston rod 201 andextension rod 235 for limiting the retracting movement of carriage 1over sub-base I91 as will be described.

As will be seen, movements in two perpendicular directions must beimparted to the carriage I and cutter head 8. These movements areeffectuated through sub-base I91 movable longitudinally relative to bed6 and cutter carriage I movable laterally relative to sub-base I91 bymeans of piston rod 201,'slidably connected to a crank 225 (Figs. 1, '1,and 8) secured to a shaft 226 journalled in sub-base I91. The turningmovement imparted to shaft 226 is carried therethrough to a crank 221above sub-base I91, the crank 221 being suitably secured to the shaft226. Crank 225, shaft 226, and crank 221 may be termed a composite bellcrank. A connecting link 228 is pinned to the end of crank 221 andat'its opposite extremity is pinned to cutter carriage 1 at 229.

The connection between piston rod 201 and crank 225 comprises (see Figs.1, '1, and 8) a cross head including a sleeve 230 fitted over a portionof rod 201 carrying bosses 23I, on which are fitted suitable rectangularbearing members 232 slidable in the end of crank 225. This constructionis provided so that piston rod 201 will not be moved out of line by itsaction on crank 225. For maintaining alignment of piston rod 201, thereis provided beyond its point of engagement with crank 225 an extendingportion 235, which is suitably guided in a bearing portion 236 ofsub-base I91 and carries at its extremity adjustably positioned nuts 231adapted to be set to determine the retractive travel of carriage 1 withreference to sub-base I91, since it will appear that pulling of pistonrod 201 will turn crank 225 only until nut 231 engages the bearingportion 236. Thereafter the piston rod 201 will pull the sub-base I91directly without further lateral movement of carriage 1. The advancingmovement of carriage 1 could be controlled by means of a stop placed onextension rod 235 adjacent to crank 225, but it is preferable to employthe wedge and stop 220 and 2I9, respectively, in order to assure anaccurate solid forward positioning of cutter head 8 and carriage 1. Inthe preferred embodiment of this feature of the invention crank 225 issubstantially longer than crank 221 to insure positioning of the cutterhead laterally before the sub-base I91 is moved.

Mention has been made of selective means for predetermining the strokeof cylinder 200 as by limit switches 239, and of provision for advancingthe cutter at a suitable cutting rate and returning it at a suitablefaster rate. It will be understood, of course, that any preferred typeof electrical and hydraulic equipment may be used for this purpose, suchequipment being well known and requiring no elaboration.

Operation The preferred cycle of operations with which the presentlydescribed embodiment of the invention is employed is as follows: A slabI2 may be brought to the manipulator I in horizontal position by meansof a suitable conveyor longitudinally extending back of manipulator Iand interleaved therewith if desired, or the slab I2 may be depositedupon the roller tabl I of manipulator I by a suitable crane and tongs orother means. Assuming that the slab will be at rest on the rollers I6 onthe inverting arms 42, it may be caused to slide over to the rollers I6on the inverting arms 43 by inclining the table I5 by means of thepressure cylinder 22 acting on the pivoted frame 46. The slab will rollthen toward the loading arms 25 and will come to rest against thefingers 36, the arms 25 then being in substantially horizontal positionshown dotted in Fig. 4, but with fingers 36 perpendicular. The arms 25will then be rotated through approximately to carry slab I2 from ahorizontal position to a vertical position where it will be supported onfingers 36.

The upward position of loading arm 25 will have been predetermined by asetting of stop pin 65, and therefore the outermost set of projectingrollers 28 will predetermine the outward position of slab I2, againstwhich slab I2 will be located and pressed by the outward drivingmovement of motorized alignment screws 90. Preferably three of'thesescrews 90 will be provided with contacting buttons 9I, such screws beingselected as will best accommodate the size of slab I2 being located inholder 3. When screws 90 have been moved to their stalled position, themotor 92 driving the same will come to rest under full torque and thenwill be electrically disconnected. The fingers 36 will then beretracted, lowering slab I2 onto lower jaw inserts 19. Opposed upper jawinserts 19 will then be brought into engagement through action ofcylinders 82 on jaw members 8| to securely clamp slab I2 in unit 4 inaligned and indexed position at a predetermined distance from the axisof rotation of holder 3.

After slab I2 has been gripped in a supporting unit 4, the loading arms25 may then be withdrawn from the face of ingot I2 and returned tosubstantially horizontal position interleaved with the arms 43 ofmanipulator I.

At this point the holder 3 will be ready to be rotated, and for thispurpose the dowel pins I26 will be lifted by means of cylinders I24.Thereupon the work holder body or housing 3 will be lifted by means ofcylinders I08 and the holder will be rotated by the action of cylinderI30 through gear I31 and pinion I38 on the main shaft III] of the workholder 3. The holder will be iven an angular momentum by cylinder I30and will turn through an angle of whereupon it will be snap-locked bylatches I40 adapted to preliminarily locate the holder as it is loweredby release of pressure on cylinders I08 so that it may rest on wedgesI20.

The holder is then more securely located through the re-engagement ofdowels I26 within apertures I28 in the upper flange 84 of holder 3 bytheaction of cylinders I24. At this position the holder is secured forthe surface machining operation and the slab or ingot is ready to bescalped or surface machined by the cutting tool 9 in cutter head 8.Immediately upon the location of the holder as aforementioned, thecutter head 8 may be automatically advanced axially on carriage 1 overways 2I1 and 2I8 by the initial movement of piston rod 201 actuated byfeeding cylinder 200. When the cutter head 8 has been advanced properlyand stopped by the engagement of wedge 220 with stop 2I9, the furthermovement of piston rod 201 by the action of feeding cylinder 200 willcause the cutter head 8, cutter carriage 1, and sub-base I91 to belongitudinally traversed over ways 2I5 and 2 I 6.

Suitable means may be provided to cause a rapid traverse approach ofcutter head 8 to the the extension rod 235 and nut 23! then abuttingagainst and pulling on bearing member 236. It is also possible toprovide suitable means for causing the return movement of cutter head 8and carriage 1 to be eflectuated at a rapid rate. Upon the returnof'cutter head 8 toward starting position, the holder 3 may beimmediately rotated 180 as aforedescribed to present a new slab 12 tothe cutter 9, whereupon the cutting cycle may be reinstituted in thesame manner as described for the previous slab. Prior to thereinstitution of the cutting cycle immediately abovementioned, a secondslab will have been placed upon manipulator l and loaded into holder 3in the manner first described.

Returning to the cycle of operations with respect to the first slab i 2loaded into the machine, this slab l2 will now have been returned to theposition adjacent manipulator I. While the second slab I2 is beingmachined by the cutter 9. the first slab l2 may then be withdrawn fromits supporting unit 4 by the raising of the loading arms 25 to thevertical position, whereupon the lifting fingers 36 may be raised torest under the slab 12. Then the arms 25 may be returned to horizontalposition carrying the slab l2 back to rest upon the rollers IS in theinverting arms 43. At this point the slab I2 is ready to be inverted sothat its second surface may then be surface machined. For inverting theslab [2 the inverting arms 42 and 43 are raised to the dotted positionshown in Fig. 4, the arms 43 carrying the slab l2 up and over a verticalcenter position; then the arms 42 and 43 may be returned to horizontalposition, the slab l2 following arms 42 and then resting in the positionfirst described, except that the opposite unmachined surface then willbe in contact with the rollers IS in arms 42.

At this point the cycle of operations first described may bereinstituted, the slab caused to approach loading arms 25, the loadingarms 25 caused to reload the slab [2 into a supporting unit 4, and theslab l2 suitably located and gripped therein. In this position the slabwill present its second face for a second machining operation which maybe immediately instituted upon the completion of the first machiningoperation on the second slab l2 then being acted upon by cutter 9.Thereafter the operation of the machine may be madecontinuous by theremoval of slabs machined on both sides and the further supply ofunmachined slabs to the manipulator I.

It is to be noted that this cycle of operations permits of loading,unloading, and inverting one slab while a second slab is being machinedso that the cutter 9 may be operated at its fullest efficiency and willnot have to await any of the loading, unloading, and invertingoperations but may be immediately returned to working operation after ithas been retracted and returned to its starting position following eachpreceding machining operation.

The appended claims are intended to be ex- When the pressive of thenovel features and arrangements of parts forming the present invention,it being understood that various modifications may be made in thepreferred embodiment thereof here shown and described without departingfrom its nature or scope.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described a work holder supportedfor rotation about a vertical axis, a work supporting unit incorporatedin said holder, means for rotating said holder on its axis to move saidsupporting unit from a work loading station to a work performingstation, means for positively locking said holder at its two saidstations, said locking means incorporating interengaging cooperatingportions of said holder and a supporting frame therefor, and

" means for raising and lowering said holder to effectuateinterengagement and locking thereof.

2. In an apparatus of the character described a rotatable work holderhaving a work supporting unit, said supporting unit incorporating workaligning and clamping means for securing Work in position for a, workingoperation thereon, means for rotating said holder to move saidsupporting unit from a Work loading station to a work performingstation, an abutment fixed with respect to said holder, and means forraising and lowering said holder into and out of engagement with saidabutment to positively secure said holder at its two said operatingstations.

3. An apparatus for surface material working comprising a rotatable workholder incorporating a plurality of work supporting units, means forpresenting the work to said units, said supporting units including aplurality of commonly driven alignment screws adapted to align the innerface of the work presented thereto and to locate the work in cooperationwith said work presenting means, clamping means for securing the worktherein, and motive means for said clamping means, means for rotatingsaid holder to successively present said supporting units to workpresenting and to surface working stations, a material working devicefor removing surface material from the work, and means for efiectingrelative movement between said working device and said holder.

4. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable work holderincorporating two work supporting units oppositely disposed about acentral vertical axis of rotation thereof, and a common means forloading and unloading the work to and from said supporting units at oneside of said holder, each of said supporting units comprising aplurality of commonly driven alignment screws adapted to have movementin a predetermined plane to press the work against said loading means tolocate and align the same with its inner face in predeterminedalignment, common means for driving said screws, clamping means forsecuring the work therein, and motive means for said clamping means.

5. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable work holderincorporating a plurality of work supporting units, said unitscomprising work locating and aligning means including motive meanstherefor, work clamping means including motive means therefor, andelectrical means associated with both of said motive means for providingactuating energy for the same, means for rotating said holder tosuccurrent into said holder and connecting to said electrical means,whereby said motive means in said holder may be electrically controlled.

6. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable work holderincorporating two oppositely disposed work supporting units, each ofsaid supporting units comprising work clamping means, at least onepressure cylinder for actuating said clamping means, said cylinder beingconnected to pressure developing means and a reservoir for a pressuremedium in said holder, an electric motor in said holder for driving saidpressure developing means, and at least one electrically operated valveassociated with said cylinder, reservoir, and pressure developing means,all of said elements comprising said supporting units being mountedwithin and rotatable with said rotatable holder, means for rotating saidholder, and means for conducting electric current through a plurality ofcircuits into said holder and connecting to each said electric motor andeach said electrically operated valve, whereby said holder isindependent of external pressure systems.

'7. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a plurality of work supporting units, said unitscomprising work locating and aligning means, work clamping means, ahydraulic system for actuating one of the aforesaid means, an electricmotor, a pump in said hydraulic system driven by said electric motor,and at least one electrically operated valve in said hydraulic system,means for rotating said holder, and means for completing a plurality ofelectric circuits into said holder and connecting to said electric motorand said electrically operated valve, said circuit completing meanscomprising a plurality of rotatable collector rings centrally mountedfor rotation on said holder, leads from said collector v rings centrallydisposed within said holder, and

a plurality of current conducting brushes fixed against rotation andadapted to engage said collector rings, whereby said hydraulic system isindependent of external pressure sources and whereby the work locatingand aligning means and the work clamping means may be electricallycontrolled externally.

8. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable work holderincorporating a plurality of work supporting units, a vertically movablemember adapted to rotatably support said holder, means for raising andlowering said vertically movable member, means for securing said holderagainst rotation comprising vertically interengaging portions on saidholder and a frame therefor, said vertically movable member when liftedadapted to free said holder of said securing means, and means forrotating said holder when lifted to successively present said supportingunits to a surface working device.

9. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable work holderincorporating a plurality of work supporting units, a vertically movablemember adapted to rotatably support said holder, means for raising andlowering said vertically movable member, means for securing said holderagainst rotation comprising vertically interengaging portions on saidholder and a frame therefor, movable tapered members adapted to beinserted into tapered apertures in said holder remotely located fromsaid vertically engaging portions and adapted to secure said holder tosaid frame, means for inserting and withdrawing said movable taperedmembers into and fromsaid holder, and means for rotating said holderwhen lifted to successively present said supporting units to a surfaceworking device.

10. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a plurality of work supporting units, a verticallymovable member adapted to rotatably support said work holder, means forraising and lowering said vertically movable member, means for securingsaid holder against rotation comprising vertically interengagingportions on said holder and a frame therefor, said vertically movablemember when lifted adapted to free said holder of said securing means,means for rotating said holder when lifted to successively present saidsupporting units to a surface workin device, and at least one springactuated latch adapted to engage said holder for stopping rotation ofsaid holder and preliminarily locating the same for actuation of saidsecuring means.

11. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a plurality of work supporting units, a verticallymovable yoke adapted to rotatably support said work holder, means forraising and lowering said yoke, means for securing said holder againstrotation comprising vertically interengaging portions on said holder anda frame therefor, vertically movable tapered pins adapted to bedownwardly inserted into tapered apertures in said holder and adaptedthereby to press said holder portion against said frame portion and tohold said holder against rotation, and means for lowering andwithdrawing said pins into and from said holder, and at least one springactuated latch adapted to engage said holder for stopping rotation ofsaid holder and preliminarily locating the same for actuation of saidsecuring means.

12. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a plurality of work supporting units, a verticallymovable yoke adapted to rotatably support said work holder, means forraising and lowering said yoke, means for securing said holder againstrotation comprising vertically interengaging portions on said holder anda frame therefor, at least one cover for said frame interengagingportion, means for moving said cover over said frame portion when saidholder is raised for rotation, and means actuated by the lowering ofsaid holder for withdrawing said cover, said yoke when lifted adapted tofree said holder of said securing means, and means for rotating saidholder when lifted to successively present said supporting units to asurface working device.

13. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating two oppositely disposed work supporting units, eachof said supporting units comprising work locating and aligning means, anelectric motor for commonly driving said locating and aligning means,work clamping means, at least one pressure cylinder for actuating saidclamping means, said cylinder being connected to pressure developingmeans and a reservoir for a pressure medium in said holder, an electricmotor in said holder for driving said pressure developing means, and atleast one electrically operated valve associated with said cylinder,reservoir, and pressure developing means, all of said elementscomprising said supporting units being mounted within and rotatable withsaid rotatable holder, means for rotating said holder, and means forconducting electric current through a plurality of circuits into saidholder and connecting to each of said electric motors and each saidelectrically operated valve, whereby said holder is independent ofexternal pressure systems.

14. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a plurality of work supporting units, said unitscomprising work clamping means, a hydraulic system for actuating theaforesaid means, an electric motor, a pump in said hydraulic systemdriven by said electric motor, and at least one electrically operatedvalve in said hydraulic system, means for rotating said holder, andmeans for completing a plurality of electric circuits into said holderand connecting to said electric motor and said electrically operatedvalve, said circuit completing means comprising a plurality of rotatablecollector rings centrally mounted for rotation on said holder, lead fromsaid collector rings centrally disposed within said holder, and aplurality of current conducting brushes fixed against rotation andadapted to engage said collector rings, whereby said hydraulic system isindependent of external pressure sources and whereby the work clampingmeans may be electrically controlled externally.

15. An apparatus for surface material working comprising a rotatablework holder incorporating a work supporting unit, means for presentingwork to said unit, said unit including a plurality of commonly drivenalignment screws adapted to align the inner face of the work presentedthereto and to locate the work in cooperation with said work presentingmeans, clamping -means for securing the work therein, and motive meansfor said clamping means, means for rotating said holder to present saidsupporting unit to work presenting and to surface working stations, amaterial working device for removing surface material from the work, andmeans for effecting relative movement between said working device andsaid holder.

16. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a work supporting unit', said unit comprising worklocating and aligning means including motive means therefor, workclamping means including motive means therefor, and electrical meansassociated with both of said motive means for providing actuating energyfor the same, means for rotatactuating said clamping means, saidcylinder being connected to pressure developing means and a reservoirfor a pressure medium in said holder, an electric motor in said holderfor driving said pressure developing means, and an electrically operatedvalve associated with said cylinder, reservoir, and pressure developingmeans, all of said elements comprising said supporting unit beingmounted within and rotatable with said rotatable holder, means forrotating said holder, and means for conducting electric current througha plurality of circuits into said holder and connecting to said electricmotor and said electrically operated valve, whereby said holder isindependent of external pressure sys tems.

18. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a work supporting unit, a vertically movable memberadapted to rotatably support said holder, means for raising and loweringsaid vertically movable member, means for securing said holder againstrotation comprising vertically interengaging portions on said holder anda frame therefor, movable tapered members adapted to be inserted intotapered apertures in said holder adapted to secure said holder to saidframe, mean for inserting and withdrawing said movable tapered membersinto and from said holder, and means for rotating said holder whenlifted to present said supporting unit to a surface working device.

19. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a work supporting unit, a vertically movable yokeadapted to rotatably support said work holder, means for raising andlowering said yoke, means 'for securing said holder against rotationcomprising vertically interengaging portions on said holder and a frametherefor, and means for mg said holder to present said supporting unitto work loading :and surface working stations, and at least one electriccircuit for conducting electric current into said holder and connectingto said electrical means, whereby said motive means may be electricallycontrolled.

1'7. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a work supporting unit, said supporting unitcomprising work clamping means, a pressure cylinder for pressing saidholder portion against said frame portion.

20. In an apparatus for surface material working, a rotatable workholder incorporating a work supporting. unit, a vertically movable yokeadapted to rotatably support said work holder, means for raising andlowering said yoke, means for securing said holder against rotationcomprising vertically interengaging portions on said holder and a frametherefor, at least one cover for said frame interengaging portion, meansfor moving said cover over said frame portion when said holder is raisedfor rotation, and means actuated by the lowering of said holder forwithdrawing said cover, said yoke when lifted adapted to free saidholder of said securing means, and means for rotating said holder whenlifted to present said supporting unit to a surface working d vice.

FRED H. FANNING.

